Trailer cover

Abstract

A cover for a flatbed trailer comprises two symmetrical halves of an outer shell forming the cover which are secured to respective longitudinal sides of the deck of the trailer for pivoting into an open position in a sideways lateral direction. The front and rear ends of the deck of the trailer are thus unobstructed for loading with ramps as desired.

1. A cover for a flatbed trailer supported for rolling movement in a forward direction and having a deck with longitudinal sides extending between front and rear ends of the deck, the cover comprising:
 an outer shell including a top, two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, the outer shell being longitudinally divided into two sections, each section including one side wall and a portion of each of the top, the front wall and the rear wall; and 
 hinges for coupling the side walls to respective longitudinal sides of the deck whereby each section is pivotal transversely to the forward direction in relation to the respective longitudinal sides; 
 wherein the two sections of the outer shell overlap one another at a seam extending longitudinally. 
 
   
   
     2. The cover according to  claim 1  wherein one of the sections includes a gutter along a free edge thereof adjacent the seam and wherein the other one of the sections overlaps the gutter. 
   
   
     3. The cover according to  claim 2  wherein said other one of the sections includes a depending flange along a free edge thereof received within the gutter. 
   
   
     4. A cover for a flatbed trailer supported for rolling movement in a forward direction and having a deck with longitudinal sides extending between front and rear ends of the deck, the cover comprising:
 an outer shell including a top, two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, the outer shell being longitudinally divided into two sections, each section including one side wall and a portion of each of the top, the front wall and the rear wall; and 
 hinges for coupling the side walls to respective longitudinal sides of the deck whereby each section is pivotal transversely to the forward direction in relation to the respective longitudinal sides; 
 each section including a handle fastened to a respective one of the side walls. 
 
   
   
     5. The cover according to  claim 1  wherein each section includes a rigid lining along an inner surface of the side wall. 
   
   
     6. The cover according to  claim 5  wherein each section includes a handle on an outer side of the side wall which is secured to the rigid lining. 
   
   
     7. The cover according to  claim 1  wherein each section includes a rigid beam along a bottom edge of the section. 
   
   
     8. The cover according to  claim 1  wherein the two sections are symmetrical about a vertical plane lying through a longitudinal seam between the two sections. 
   
   
     9. A cover for a flatbed trailer supported for rolling movement in a forward direction and having a deck with longitudinal sides extending between front and rear ends of the deck, the cover comprising:
 an outer shell including a top, two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, the outer shell being longitudinally divided into two sections, each section including one side wall and a portion of each of the top, the front wall and the rear wall; and 
 hinges for coupling the side walls to respective longitudinal sides of the deck whereby each section is pivotal transversely to the forward direction in relation to the respective longitudinal sides; 
 the front wall being sloped upwardly and rearwardly towards the top. 
 
   
   
     10. A cover for a flatbed trailer supported for rolling movement in a forward direction and having a deck with longitudinal sides extending between front and rear ends of the deck, the cover comprising:
 an outer shell including a top, two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, the outer shell being longitudinally divided into two sections, each section including one side wall and a portion of each of the top, the front wall and the rear wall; and 
 hinges for coupling the side walls to respective longitudinal sides of the deck whereby each section is pivotal transversely to the forward direction in relation to the respective longitudinal sides; 
 the rear wall being sloped upwardly and forwardly to the top. 
 
   
   
     11. The cover according to  claim 1  wherein the outer shell is formed of layers of fibreglass material and a core spanning therebetween. 
   
   
     12. The cover according to  claim 11  wherein there is provided a rigid lining on at least one wall of the fibreglass material. 
   
   
     13. The cover according to  claim 1  wherein each section is integrally moulded of plastic material. 
   
   
     14. A cover in combination with a flatbed trailer supported for rolling movement in a forward direction and having a deck with longitudinal sides extending between front and rear ends of the deck and a ramp selectively coupled to the front and rear ends of the deck, the cover comprising:
 an outer shell including a top, two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, the outer shell being longitudinally divided into two sections, each section including one side wall and a portion of each of the top, the front wall and the rear wall; and 
 hinges for coupling the side walls to respective longitudinal sides of the deck whereby each section is pivotal transversely to the forward direction in relation to the respective longitudinal sides. 
 
   
   
     15. The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the outer shell overlaps a peripheral edge of the deck. 
   
   
     16. The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the deck includes lateral flanges projecting outwardly from respective longitudinal sides of the deck, the hinges being coupled to an underside of the lateral flanges respectively. 
   
   
     17. The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the hinges include a first portion secured to the longitudinal sides of the deck and a second portion secured to the side walls of the outer shell in which the first and second portions are selectively separable from one another. 
   
   
     18. The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the side walls, the front wall and the rear wall of the shell are aligned with respective edges of the deck in the closed position of the outer shell. 
   
   
     19. The combination according to  claim 14  wherein an upper surface of the deck is uninterrupted by the hinges in both open and closed positions of the cover.